Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life.
Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling.
Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
4 The slothful will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is [like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
6 Most men wilt proclaim every one his own kindness: but a faithful man who can find?
Banengi abathi balothando olungapheliyo, kodwa ngubani ongamthola umuntu othembekileyo na?
7 A just man that walketh in his integrity, blessed are his children after him.
Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Ungathandani lobuthongo uzakuba ngumyanga, hlala uvukile uzakuba lokudla okunengi.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
“Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge [that is surety] for strangers.
Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and by wise guidance make thou war,
Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
21 An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil: wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
23 Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
24 A man’s goings are of the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, [It is] holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked, and bringeth the [threshing] wheel over them.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of the belly.
Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
Udumo lwamajaha lusemandleni awo, izimvu zekhanda ziyinkazimulo yabadala.
30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil: and strokes [reach] the innermost parts of the belly.
Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
